Ferries complain of 'increasing difficulty' over Covid patients

Warnings over crossing Solent

A WARNING has been issued to people with suspected coronavirus – please do not cross the Solent for tests or else you risk infecting others.

There have been well-publicised difficulties in obtaining a coronavirus test in recent weeks. Because of this, people have had to travel – and in many cases people in Hampshire have been offered a test on the Isle of Wight, and islanders have been offered a test on the mainland.

But this means crossing the Solent, and now Wightlink and Hovertravel have joined councillors in pleading with people not to use ferries or the hovercraft in order to reduce the risk of infecting others if they do in fact have the virus.

Ferry firms Wightlink and Red Funnel have asked people not to use their services in order to attend test appointments unless necessary, while Hovertravel has asked people travelling for a test not to use their service.

People should seek a home test where possible to avoid using public transport, according to Portsmouth City Councillor Matthew Winnington, cabinet member for health, wellbeing and social care.

He said: ‘We wouldn’t support people who think they are Covid positive going on public transport.

‘In this context, the Isle of Wight ferry is public transport.

‘If you really have no choice, then that is something you would have to consider, but you can get home tests as well.

‘Even taking the car ferry is using public transport, and you still will come into contact with people – it’s not an isolated situation.’

The councillor added that the government’s communication about testing ‘absolutely needed to be clearer’.

He said: ‘I would be much more comfortable with the government website if it had a geographical maximum for tests and warnings like ‘unless there is no other option, don’t use public transport’.’

Anyone intending to use Wightlink to attend a Covid test across the Solent must give the firm 48 hours notice and travel in a car, which they must remain in throughout the crossing.

The provisions come as it is ‘becoming more difficult’ for the ferry firm to accommodate passengers, according to chief executive Keith Greenfield.

He said: ‘ We agree that anyone seeking a Covid test should not cross the Solent if it can be avoided.’

Hovertravel – which runs passenger journeys between

Southsea and Ryde – has asked for people not to use their service if they are travelling to a test or showing coronavirus symptoms.

Neil Chapman, managing director of Hovertravel, added: ‘Anyone considering using Hovertravel to go for a test or anyone showing Covid-19 symptoms must not travel with us.’

Red Funnel – which operates a service between Southampton and the Isle of Wight – also asked for suspected Covid-19 patients to only travel if necessary and give the firm 48 hours notice.

People who think they’re Covid positive should not be going on public transport’ Cllr Matthew Winnington